How difficult is it to move from developing Java on Windows to developing on Linux?

The hard part, if you're new to it, is learning Linux. There are plenty of good resources online and in the bookstores to help you. Allow yourself the time to learn your way around this powerful environment.

You'll need to install an SDK. The SDKs available from Blackdown, Sun, and IBM are all good, but opinions vary about which one is the "best".

If you are accustomed to developing with an IDE, most IDEs are written in Java and available on Linux. See this discussion to learn more about your options.

You can also develop using the command-line tools that come with the SDK, such as javac. People who grew up with Unix (like me) often prefer this to IDEs, but it's very much a matter of personal preference.

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